Reality Check

News reports said that the Superbowl advertisement about Tim Tebow had pro-life and pro-choice advocates up in arms. Pro-life advocates defend the advertisement by saying that it showed that Tebow's mother had a choice, and she chose life (also implying that she made the correct choice). Pro-choice advocates seem to be upset because it appears that there is only one choice available. It's another fine example of how polarized we become on major (and minor) issues.

I wonder if it's really about pro-life or pro-choice. To me, the issue of abortion is much more complex than having one viewpoint or the other. As a Christian, I believe in the importance of human life, as each is created in God's image...but if I'm going to advocate for a pro-life stance, shouldn't I also advocate for adoption reform if a mother makes an adoption plan, but it takes years for the child to be adopted? If I advocate for a pro-life stance, shouldn't I also advocate for health care and health insurance reform to aid the single mother who has helped bring the life I value into the world? If I advocate for a pro-choice stance, I show my understanding that humans have been given the gift of free will by God. If I advocate for a pro-choice stance, then do I also advocate for people to live with the blessings and hardships of their decisions?

Sometimes I think human beings need a reality check. We want things to be simple - black and white - and thus polarized, because it makes everything neat, tidy, and and brings order out of chaos. The issues that we make issues, though, are anything but neat and tidy. They are complex, multi-layered, and intertwined. As Christians, we can't look at one issue without looking at others. We can't have a discussion about homosexuality unless we also talk about the authority of the canon of Scripture in our lives. We can't talk about health care unless we talk about love of God and our neighbor.

We try really hard to make things fit our mold...and it means we end up with round holes and square pegs, which really doesn't work at all. Maybe instead of trying to whittle everything down to clear cut and defined positions, we should remember that our God is full of mystery and complexity. We can't know it all, and put it all into our neat black and white categories. The reality is that our understanding of God is in a shade of gray, and that also makes our understanding of issues that face humanity shades of gray.

Maybe our reality is mystery - blurry, impressionistic, and blended...but that's probably a picture of God and God's people. Maybe we should learn to live within mystery, and live in the image of God, rather than forming God and God's people in our own image.

Litmus Test

The day has finally arrived! Our adoption has taken longer than a full-term pregnancy, but Wednesday we got the e-mail saying that we were cleared to travel. We've set our travel time for three and a half weeks, but completing the adoption could take more time or less time. We're having to be flexible - and I've asked my congregation to the same.

The litmus test for any pastor is to be removed from a congregation and see if ministry thrives. There's only been so much that I could do to get ready for traveling. The preachers are lined up, the substitutes to teach and lead rehearsals are ready to go, and there are still a thousand things that I need to do in the next week - but I won't do everything. I've simply asked people to take responsibility to make things happen.

If you had asked me six to eight months ago if the congregation could handle me being gone for a month, I might have struggled with my answer. But in the past six months, we've seen tremendous spiritual growth, some numeric growth, and passion, zeal and determination. This congregation is remarkably resilient, and I truly believe the can make it happen. Not only do I think they can thrive without me, but I think they will be even stronger because of my absence.

Not every church could be like that - but not every church has people who have the passion and desire to "make it happen." You know, every time Paul planted a church, he didn't stay long; what he did do was train others to "make it happen." The church wouldn't simply sit there and stagnate - people stepped in and led the people so that they thrived and actively continued their mission. So, if you're a Timothy, make it happen!

I don't think that there's a need for a litmus test, though. The church isn't about me, and doesn't revolve around me. It centers on God; if it does that, and stays clear about its mission, then the church will simply be guided by the Holy Spirit to be fruitful. And that hope frees me to leave - and to return!